Waterfowl from the Lagoons

On Monday I visited the Richmond Lagoon for the first time. I went back yesterday for another try. The Blue Wing Teals were still there and I managed to get my first photos of a Northern Shoveler and a Bufflehead. Unfortunately all shots are big crops (~20-25% of full frame).

I also got shots of a Spotted Sandpiper and some Mallard ducklings which I'll post another time.

Bigma + Manfrotto tripod.

Shoveler

Big crops seem to be going around these days. These came out pretty good though. Never seen a bufflehead before, but I can see why they got that name.

Lots of noise and very little detail, but that's the problem with 25% crops. Keep trying, it's a learning experience.

Thanks for posting these Steve. I've never seen a Shoveler before but we had Buffleheads at the cottage for a couple of weeks this spring....they are certainly the smallest & fastest ducks around.

Congratulations on your first shots of the Northern Shoveler.

Nicely done Stephen...great Shoveler image

well done steph i had my first shovelers the day i ti had big crops . they didnt look to bad till i got home.

Nice shots Stephen.

Thanks Mitch, JJ, Scott, Sindri, Ted, Jason and Phil. I realise that these are noisey shots but it was still exciting to get these. I'm always amazed at how big a Shoveler's beak is.

One thing about the male shoveller is that their heads can appear green or purple/blue depending on how the light hits them.. You managed to capture both colours Good shots.

Nice shots Stephen - congrats on your first shoveler, fabulous birds.
Now this is a beak.
Regards Alan.

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Jim amd Alan thank you. Alan I'd love to get even half as close as you did to a shoveler some day.

Nicely done Stephen, I dont have captures of either of these species yet. I also take long distance shots of birds I dont have yet, gives me motivation to get out and upgrade, plus even if they are large crops, I can at least say I got one!